Well, I had assumed I would be moving to Texas this summer....but from the looks of it, it won't be until this next winter. Not sure exactly where we are moving to....alot will depend on jobs. But I am debating a move to Texas, get a rental, and a job (maybe not the right job, but a job for now while I look for the right job). Then once I know exactly where my career is going to land me, I can buy a house in that area and really get settled in.

So for now, I am looking for some input/advice on which areas of Texas would be the best place to live. Alot of factors will come into play....jobs, weather, housing costs, population, crime, schools, etc... I was planning on moving to Austin, still may, but now I am also opening the scope up a little to include other areas like San Antonio, Dallas/Ft. Worth, or some others....just need input on where the best/nicest areas of Texas are.

I have heard nothing but good things about Austin (except for the traffic)...but how is San Antonio? I heard San Antonio generally has better weather then Austin and I know they have a track, where Austin does not. Not that I will move or not move somewhere because of a track, but it helps not having to drive an hour away to go race.

Well, for the locals that live in Texas, feel free to chime in on where you think a the best areas of Texas are and why....wether you live there, visit there, etc...I currently live in Missouri but I am from San Diego originally....so it's time to get back to warm weather, mexican food, and a population. Which cities seem to have the most activities to do? How far are all the cities in Texas from one another? Which cities have the largest communities of street racer/car people? I don't want to live somewhere where nothing happens on the weekends....cars are my hobby, nice to have something to rely on to entertain me on the weekends.

Thanks for your time.

-Scott

 

Mexican food pretty much sucks north of I-10. (I kid, I kid)

 

It depends on where you work, but Austin is beautiful. Be forewarned, the cost of living is a little higher than some of the other areas and the traffic is horrible. (I live in Houston and say Austins traffic is terrible.) But your originally from California so I'm sure you're used to some sticker shock and traffic! Austin has lots of things to do and is on the liberal/artsy side. San Antonio is not that far from Austin. Of course I drive 45 minutes to get to work everyday. There are things to do in San Antonio and Austin. San Antonio is a bit more "touristy" and has more tourist attractions but it's feel is more "blue collar". You need to be careful where you choose to live "in" San Antonio due to crime and schools but this is true in every major city. San Antonio has "grown up" as a city in the last few years. There are plenty of things to do in San Antonio. If it were me, I would choose somewhere that both were accessible and probably work in San Antonio due to the traffic being a little better. That is if you don't mind living in a smaller town and commuting for work and pleasure. All of the Hill country is beautiful!!! New Braunfels and San Marcos are pretty neat towns and have their own feel.

OK, so I think Texas is just a great place to be no matter where you live!!!

 

I'm happy w/ College Station, great schools, plenty of jobs(depending on what you do). The traffic isn't bad, and it's not overly far from bigger cities like Houston, Austin, San Antonio. But rent is really high, especially near A&M.

 

AUSTIN FOT THE WIN!!! BE CITY IN tEXaS!

 

Austin isnt really Texas anymore . SA is growing big time. Traffic will only get worse w/upcoming construction(5-10 years out though). If you come down here you need to pick a spot outside 1604 N. There is crime everywhere but its less violent on the northside. Mostly theft from cronstruction workers I would say.
IMO there isnt much to do. If you want good mexican food there is plenty. There are plenty of ricers for you to hang out with also .

I would have to agree moving between Austin and SA would be best. Im sure there is much more to do and def. a bigger car scene in DFW. I dont know much about Houston.

 

Awesome...I can't wait to hang out with ricers. We don't have any in Missouri.

I have checked out housing prices and pretty much anywhere in Texas seems very affordable overall. Nothing like San Diego was. Even here in Missouri, the average price for a new construction home being built is over $270k in my small *** college town of 100,000 people.

I am planning to visit some of the areas in Texas towards the end of March to get a feel for the areas, see which places are cleaner, seem less poor, etc.. I understand that all cities have their "not so fresh" areas to live in....but I want to see how nice the better areas are, what kind of condition the streets are in, the schools, etc...

I was told by a friend of ours here in Columbia that San Marcos and New Braunfels were both nice places to live....as well as up around Round Rock, north of Austin. My only problem is that I hate commuting very far, I hate small towns where anything to do is 30 minutes away....I live in one right now and it sucks. I want to get back to a population....just don't want to be near the areas of town where my family, house, cars, etc...are not safe.

How is the street scene in Texas? I know you guys supposedly have some of the faster street cars on the roads.....but for my weekend hobbies, picking fights with other cars is my kind of night.

Thanks for the input guys....please feel free to bitch and complain about certain places, praise certain places, etc....I am looking for true life, love or hate situations and feelings with these cities.

Scott

 

What kind of work do you do? That may help us provide input on places to live if you want to live not far from work. Do you have a degree? If so, in what? If not, what do you like to do. Market for technical people (Mechanical Engineers, Chemical Engineers, etc.) is very strong in the Houston area. My company hired over 200 people in 2005 and we still have slots to fill. There are also non-degreed jobs supporting the chemical and refining industries. These can be either direct or through temporary agencies like Kelly Services or CDI. Pay scales range from $7 - $50+/hr depending on education, skills and knowledge and demand.

As for specific cities. I moved from AZ to Houston in '89. Small city to very big city was a shock for me. Especially the traffic. I got accustomed to it, but after a while, I could not stand spending 1 hour in my car to get to work and another hour home. Not great for quality of life. I had the opportunity to change job locations with same employer and moved to Pearland (which is south of Houston). Much smaller town, but growing FAST and traffic there is now an issue. Relocated closer to work in '04 (10 minutes) and now have more time for family AND to work on my car. Crime in Pearland is low. Schools are top rank in Texas. Lots of restaurants. 30-45 minutes from downtown, Reliant Park, and Minute Maid Park. Clear Lake/NASA is 20 minutes away. Kemah and Galveston are also 30-60 minutes away.

Richard

 

SAN ANTONIO FOR THE WIN!!!! i love it here! WE HAVE THE BIGGEST TACOS IN THE US BABY!!!

 

Nothing beats Austin! We have Lime Creek...discussion over. I like San Antonio alot too though . Plus Austin is the Live Music Capitol of the World! SXSW soon!

 

Come to Dallas!

 

My grandparents live in Georgetown, I didn't think I would like that change from Knoxville, Tenn. I have to say, that is where I am going to live. Houston is nice but I am kind of a country guy, Georgetown is a sweet place. It just really depends on where you work, what's easier for you, and where you would like to live. It all depends on you and where you feel like you would like to live more.

 

lantana, texas is pretty nice

 

My wife is the billing administrator for the Univerisity Hospital here in Columbia for her dept. So she will be looking to stay in the same general career area....more then likely a billing supervisor/administrator for a school of medicine or possibly for a pirvate group. So Medical schools/hospitals will be a main requirement for her career. I do mostly investments for a career on my own....so I can do that anywhere. Mostly moving for the weather and we will be looking for the best career choices for her. She does have her degree in Economics and will probably stay in the field of Health Management. But it really just depends on what is out there. Since we aren't planning to move until later this year, she/we have not began to do career searches or job searches simply due to the timing.

Suburbs are great, as long as they are somewhat self contained....local shopping, grocery, post office, resteraunts, hotels, etc....I don't want to live too far from the city centers, and would prefer to live near the newer areas of town (not much for historical houses). I prefer newer construction, newer developments, but I also would like to have some land....I hate when houses appear to be stacked on top of one another. I don't need acres or anything, but a 1/4 - 1/2 acre lot would be nice for the subdivsion. There are tons of housing requirements I have, but those are personal and don't really matter much when we are talking about city so I will spare you the details. What cities generally have the best sporting programs for children? Best educational districts? And lowest crime (esp. violent crime)?

Is the weather much different between Austin and San Antonio and Dallas and Houston?

 

Texas Medical Center : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Medical_Center

The Texas Medical Center includes 13 hospitals, 2 medical schools, and a total of 42 institutions in all.



No that isnt downtown, that's JUST the medical center. So if your looking for jobs for her in that field Houston is going to be a good bet. We have the highest numbers of hospital staff per capita in the US.


San Antonio is at the head of the valley and Dallas sits on the plains they typically have the highest overall temps (based on dry heat indexes) not actual temps.

Austin is surrounded by hills and lakes and is generally cooler.

Houston is on the coast and while the temps are cooler, the humidity can be a killer.

 

RANDOM CLIMATE FACTS:
Days warmer than 90 degrees (F)

Austin: 111
Dallas/Fort Worth: 100
Houston: 96
San Antonio: 112

 

AVERAGE TEMPS BY MONTH

<TABLE class=data id=ctl00_mainContent_dgCityProfile style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 rules=all border=1><TBODY><TR class=header><TD>Austin</TD><TD>Year</TD><TD>Jan.</TD><TD>Feb.</TD><TD>Mar.</TD><TD>Apr.</TD><TD>May </TD><TD>June</TD><TD>July</TD><TD>Aug.</TD><TD>Sep.</TD><TD>Oct.</TD><TD>Nov.</TD><TD>Dec.</TD></TR><TR class=data><TD class=datalabel>High degrees F
</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>64</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>91</TD><TD>95</TD><TD>96</TD><TD>90</TD><TD>81</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>63</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD class=datalabel>Low degrees F
</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>39</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>65</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>41</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE class=data id=ctl00_mainContent_dgCityProfile style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 rules=all border=1><TBODY><TR class=header><TD>Dallas/FW</TD><TD>Year</TD><TD>Jan.</TD><TD>Feb.</TD><TD>Mar.</TD><TD>Apr.</TD><TD>May </TD><TD>June</TD><TD>July</TD><TD>Aug.</TD><TD>Sep.</TD><TD>Oct.</TD><TD>Nov.</TD><TD>Dec.</TD></TR><TR class=data><TD class=datalabel>High degrees F
</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>76</TD><TD>83</TD><TD>92</TD><TD>96</TD><TD>96</TD><TD>88</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>58</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD class=datalabel>Low degrees F
</TD><TD>55</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>38</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>63</TD><TD>71</TD><TD>75</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>67</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>37</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE class=data id=ctl00_mainContent_dgCityProfile style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 rules=all border=1><TBODY><TR class=header><TD>Houston</TD><TD>Year</TD><TD>Jan.</TD><TD>Feb.</TD><TD>Mar.</TD><TD>Apr.</TD><TD>May </TD><TD>June</TD><TD>July</TD><TD>Aug.</TD><TD>Sep.</TD><TD>Oct.</TD><TD>Nov.</TD><TD>Dec.</TD></TR><TR class=data><TD class=datalabel>High degrees F
</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>61</TD><TD>65</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>79</TD><TD>85</TD><TD>91</TD><TD>93</TD><TD>93</TD><TD>89</TD><TD>81</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>65</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD class=datalabel>Low degrees F
</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>51</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>65</TD><TD>71</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>68</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>43</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE class=data id=ctl00_mainContent_dgCityProfile style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 rules=all border=1><TBODY><TR class=header><TD>S. Antonio </TD><TD>Year</TD><TD>Jan.</TD><TD>Feb.</TD><TD>Mar.</TD><TD>Apr.</TD><TD>May </TD><TD>June</TD><TD>July</TD><TD>Aug.</TD><TD>Sep.</TD><TD>Oct.</TD><TD>Nov.</TD><TD>Dec.</TD></TR><TR class=data><TD class=datalabel>High degrees F
</TD><TD>80</TD><TD>62</TD><TD>66</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>80</TD><TD>86</TD><TD>92</TD><TD>95</TD><TD>95</TD><TD>90</TD><TD>82</TD><TD>71</TD><TD>64</TD></TR><TR class=alt><TD class=datalabel>Low degrees F
</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>39</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>66</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>69</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>41</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

^^^ Ah, but says nothing about dry vs humid heat.

Houston probably has the largest import scene, simply for that fact that it's the largest city in Texas (well, can't remember what the combined DFW area is). A popular Houston import board: www.houston-imports.com .

Austin/hill country has the best driving roads (meaning curves). Nothing worth driving in the general Houston area except for a short, winding stretch thru mid-town (Did I need another reason to live one block from it? ) We Houstonians do have a new road track now though.

 

Hey stranger where ya been!??!

BTW, we actually have 2 new tracks if you include the one down near Texas City too... oh yeah and Hennessey is working hard to get their road course done by the fall. That will be 3 new road courses in a 18 month span. I love that.

 

I find that my allergies killed me when I went to Houston. I know I am from Louisiana and it is sort of bad over here but I didn't have any problems in Georgetown. The weather was awesome, it was about 95* but not humid. They had a consistant breeze..it would be the perfect weather to cruise. I really have no complaints about Texas....but of course I am comparing it to Louisiana. No real big contest. lol

 

I may be biased, but there is a reason behind it. Austin. Hands down.

Austin is growing quickly, because people finally caught on that it rules. As a result, yes, we are still resolving traffic issues. But you know, if you are smart about it, just don't drive in it! My commute to work is about 8 minutes all surface streets.

I also live in a very "hip" going on sorta area of town. People put the zip code, 78704, on their bumpers. Yes we are that proud. But again, it's all for good reason. My house is a five minute drive from downtown, yet with a 5 minute walk I can be on the greenbelt and never know I was in the middle of a city. I've got Zilker Park (365 acres and home to many music events, festivals), Barton Springs (3 acre spring fed 68 degrees pool=heaven in the summer), 10 miles of hike and bike, 8 miles of greenbelt, the creek, kayaking on town lake, about 10-12 LOCAL restaurants, a neighborhood convienence store, and a kickass breakfest taco place all within 5 minutes walk from my house. Crime is zilch where I'm at, and generally fine in Austin. Find that in Houston, or Dallas, or San Antonio.

ACL festival, SXSW music festival, hundreds of restaurants and bars with live music, a very active, fit population....I really would not live anywhere else in Texas.

Austin all the way!

Right on.

 

Well, career will play a huge role in where we move to. Austin has appealed to me for about 2-3 years now...but if the work isn't available there, or the pay doesn't match with some of the other areas, then who knows.

I will not be able to live near downtown due to the fact that I have to have a min. 3 car garage and a fenced in back yard for my dogs. So the odds of finding a family friendly area to live near downtown I am afraid will be slim to none. I will be looking for a 3000sqft or so house, 3 car garage min., and a decent sized driveway for parking. If I can find that in a fantastic convinient location in a great school district....I am all for that. But to me, the whole "hip" lifestyle doesn't effect me. I like having things to do...but I am not a drinker, partier, etc....I care about friends, family, and racing. So those requirements will have to be met first and foremost. I love the idea that there is no crime where you live, that is great.

Seems that the weather averages are very similar across the state....I guess the heat index and humidity will be the larger deciding factors for weather. I assume rainfall is similar in all locations as well....roughly. Dallas can have Tornados, Houston can have Hurricanes, and Austin and San Antonio get???? nothing? I am not worried about natural disasters necessarily...just making a comment more or less. That plays 0 role in my decision on where to move.

I had zero allergies in San Diego....but I die up here in Missouri in the spring time. Ragweed is horrible here. I never had allergies till we moved here. I won't miss this area at all.....I want gone.

 

Ragweed kills me here in Austin too, but Allegra taken early in the season takes care of it.

Austin may see a freak tornado now and then, but we really don't get anything bad. The only thing central texas is prone too, is flooding along the rivers and creeks. This has happened in Austin throughout the years, and more often in San Marcos and New Braunfels. Just don't live in the flood plain like some idiots do. Tubing on Barton Creek is amazing, but a rare experience.

As for what you are looking for and Austin, you would probably want to go south to the newer suburban areas like Circle C or even north into Round Rock. You are no longer in Austin at that point, IMO, but you can still gleen the benefits. There are also pockets closer to the center of the city that fit your bill.

Austin is definitely a cool place to raise a kid.

Houston humidity kills. Austin has it too, but Houston is a sweatfest.

good luck.....if you are from san diego I think Austin is most comparable.

 

damn neo-hipsters!

Thanks for screwing up the (grade)curve Mike

 

Road track in Texas City? Where is Hennessey building his? This is good news.

Been absolutely swamped. Slowly chipping away at the FD, might be ready this year even. May not turn out to some peoples' liking though (que Darth Vader breathing haha).